Martin O'Neill addresses questions on his future as Celtic boss after claiming latest setback is 'not a disaster'

Martin O'Neill has urged Celtic to use their latest defeat to Rangers as a moment for “self-reflection” rather than crisis, insisting there remains little to separate the two sides despite another disappointing outcome for the champions.

The Hoops were beaten by their fierce Glasgow rivals for the second time in the space of a week, leaving O'Neill to confront the frustration of another Old Firm defeat while attempting to keep the result in perspective.

For all the negativity, the 74-year-old did not believe the contest reflected a significant gulf between the teams. Instead, he felt his side’s failure to turn promising passages of play into clear-cut chances ultimately proved costly.

“I don't think there's very much between the teams,” O’Neill told Sky Sports. “We should have created more, as much as anything else. We had one just after half time, the goalkeeper makes a good save, but we should have created more.”

O’Neill acknowledged that there were encouraging aspects to his team’s performance, particularly in the way they progressed the ball up the pitch. But the decisive quality was missing when it mattered most.

“It might just be one of those days,” he continued. “Some of our build-up play was really good, the final ball let us down. That's probably about it. It's frustrating to lose a game of any description. An Old Firm game is tough to take. But they took their chance and we didn't capitalise on whatever we tried to do.

“I can't complain whatsoever in terms of effort. It's tough with European games, you're trying to balance things. We can't do anything about it, we want to try and play in Europe, but it's a balancing act.”

O’Neill: ‘History proves the football club fights back from these things’

That balancing act will remain one of the central challenges for Celtic as the season progresses. The intensity of their domestic schedule, combined with the demands of the Europa League, leaves little time to dwell on setbacks.

O'Neill's post-match message was therefore one of perspective. He accepted the disappointment but rejected the suggestion that the latest defeat represented a defining moment for the club.

“Nobody is pleased with what's happened, it's been a tough week,” he said. “But history proves the football club fights back from these things.”

The immediate focus will now shift once the international break has passed. O'Neill claimed that the interruption could provide an opportunity for his players and coaching staff to take stock before restarting again.

“When the players come back from international duty, we'll have a rethink,” the Irishman admitted. “I don't think it's a disaster. And the word they tell me is 'reset'. It's time for a bit of self-reflection.”

Quizzed specifically on his own position, O’Neill stated: “I will reflect on the games. I’ll obviously speak to the board. And you never know, they may want to speak to me. But, yeah, I’ll see. I’ve got some time to do that there. I’ve got a short break in the summer time. So I will have a look, try and get a couple of days away and see how it goes.”

Pressed further on whether he still retains the energy and desire to keep going, O’Neill added: “I’ll have a look, yeah. I wish I was your age. I do, genuinely, You look up at me and, how old are you? I honestly wish I was 24 again. There’s nothing great about getting old, I promise you that.”

The challenge for Celtic now is not simply to recover from another loss to their bitter rivals but to ensure that frustration is converted into a positive response. O'Neill's assessment was clear: there are shortcomings to address, particularly in the final third, but there is no appetite for panic.

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